Feature
ripple effect which leads to creating more
good habits.
MAKE A START
It’s very common to see the parents
making big plans where the destination
(like playing the PGA) is already visible.
It’s like visualizing the 18 holes in a game
of golf while standing on the fi rst tee. Golf
like life is a journey where intermittent
milestones will be visible but destination
may not be even known. It’s important to
start in order to reach any milestone(s).
Without a start fi nish is improbable.
THERE’S NO FINISH LINE
Most parents or coaches focus on the
destination – a fi nish line which doesn’t
exist. Preparing for the fi nish line
ensures that you don’t even start at least
not properly. Science also shows that
motivation doesn’t keep you going and
on the contrary it develops along the way.
Dr Jerome Bruner a psychologist from
Harvard said ‘’ You are more likely to
act yourself into the feeling than feeling
yourself into action’’. It’s just like the well
known way of becoming brave is to get
into action and act brave.
PATH OF PROGRESS
How to then proceed on the path of
becoming an accomplished golfer? It’s
best to make a start by small goals while
enjoying the process. Practicing to become
better and then aiming for small successes.
The small wins will get some confi dence,
motivation and the necessary momentum.
Your system and processes will then see
you through for higher levels of success.
LEARN FROM NICK FALDO
Sir Nick Faldo has been a supreme
example of a person seeking perfection. He
was always a sporty child and was taken
by a doting mother to any sport he liked.
He swam, was a runner and cyclist before
Vijay Singh
deciding to become a golfer. He always
had an elegant swing and played with the
likes of Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam in
the junior days. Despite his success on
the tour, he decided to remodel his swing
with David Leadbetter. His decision to
tamper with his swing was often criticized
for not being necessary but Faldo had a
strong mind. He wanted to start building a
swing which won’t break under pressure.
To him the focus on his game (Start) was
essential and not the results (Finish). The
results were sweet – Nick Faldo became
the No 1 golfer in the world and won 06
majors. He later got knighted and became
one of the only three golfers to have the
prefi x of ‘Sir’ before his name. It wasn’t
enough and his passion shown in his work
for junior golf and in his creation of golf
courses.
There are invaluable lessons to be learnt
from Vijay Singh and Sir Nick Faldo. Most
important one being – ‘’Focus on the Start
and Not Finish’’ and then create systems
and habits which can continuously propel
you on your chosen path of continual
improvement.
GolfPlus Junior March-April 2020
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